Heimskringla: History of the Kings of Norway (Paperback)

~ (Author), Lee M. Hollander (Translator)

Editorial Reviews

Review

Among the many contibutions to world literature that ancient Iceland has given us, Heimskringla stands out as one of the truly monumental works. Among medieval European histories in the vernacular it has no equal. (Modern Philology )

Product Description

"[Snorri Sturluson] speaks--as almost no other historian ever has spoken--with the authority of a man whose masterful skills would have made him one of the formidable, foremost in any of the events he records. So he saturates even remotely past happenings with a gripping first-hand quality. . . Hollander's translation is very good, fresh on every page . . . Wherever you open the book, the life grips you and you read on . . ." --Ted Hughes, New York Review of Books

Product Details

• Paperback: 880 pages
• Publisher: University of Texas Press (1991)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0292730616
• ISBN-13: 978-0292730618
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6.1 x 1.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #739,971 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

30 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Mandatory reading for medievalists, August 9, 2001

By	Michael K. Smith (Gonzales, Louisiana) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

Snorri, an often unscrupulous (and very successful) politician who lived in the real world, was also a very learned man. He was arguably the greatest historian of medieval Europe, and in his methods he has often been compared to Thucydides. "Heimskringla" means "the world is round" -- appropriate for a people who considered the entire world their arena -- and is the overall title given to his collection of earlier sagas, rationalized and pruned of recognizable nonsense, which is still the basis of history in the North. Snorri's style is simplicity itself and because "history" until very recently concerned itself with the actions of great men, he spends considerable time detailing the interrelationships among the many leaders of Scandinavia -- and especially of Harald "Fairhair," who conquered and united the many domains of those leaders. (Why "Fairhair"? Read the saga.) The roots of William the Conqueror are here, as well as those of Canute and St. Olaf. This simply-illustrated edition noted above runs to nearly 900 pages and is generally regarded as the best, but any will do. This is history, literature, genealogy, and mythology, and should be read by anyone with a serious interest in medieval history.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Don't be daunted, July 10, 2007

By	Z.A. (USA) - See all my reviews

Don't be afraid to start this very, very long book. You can skip around and read the exciting histories of the kings of Norway. I loved the tale of how Norway's "1st King" Harald Fairhair conquered the kingdom for the sake of a gal he liked. The sections on St. Olaf are good too. Happy reading!

3 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fun and Interesting Reading, December 15, 2005

By	Ex-Pat "Ex-Pat" (Eindhoven, NL) - See all my reviews

First of all, a great translation! Fun and interesting (often very violent) reading. A good history also. Worth reading.